Building a multipurpose computer

[daggs]

hello.
I'm planning to build a multipurpose computer which will be a ASDL+router+firewall, boinc crunching machine and HTPC. (don't mind the balance, I'll take care of it)
planned rig is has followed:
cpu: Athlon X2 4400+
mb: ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI + O/B ATI HD3200
mem: 2x1G
tv tuner card
hd: WD 1T
the rest I have.

now here are my questions:
1)I don't have a hd tv (no money) so I'm thinking of doing this:
- getting a vga/dvi to s-out converter
- using a old radeon 9250 card which I have laying around till I'll be able to get a better tv
- getting a no O/B card mb, using the old radeon and getting a better card later
now I read the TH's article on building a HTPC, that is why I want that board, what performance impact can I suffer if I take the third option? (getting a mb with amd chipset) which option is best in my condition?
2)can someone recommend a good (and not expensive) tv tuner card that is pci and is supported under linux?
3) has I understand it, when getting a feed from the antenna of the tv tuner card, the signal is transported directly to the graphics card, right?

I need to stress out the fact that I need to lower the cost of building the system has low has possible but on in expense of quality.

thanks in advance.

 

[daggs]

no one knows?

 

[Helloworld_98]

1) the built in gfx will do better than that radeon, in fact swap that board for a M3A78-VM, you get displayport, DVI and VGA out, and you can get dp to HDMI and HDMI to s-video connectors.

2) to be honest you should get a nice 28" HannsG tv before you buy a HTPC, they cost about $335, are 1920x1200 with 1920x1080 scaling, have composite, component, a few HDMI and some other ports so you can use it with older goods too.

 

[daggs]

thanks for the response.
whats is the main difference between M3A78-VM and ASUS M3A78-EMH?
I can't seem to find one, not alone to find one of this at my native country.
like I've said it is part of a multipurpose computer, my main reason to want one now is to eliminate the old video recorder...

 

[daggs]

one more question, what quality of viewing can I expect if I use the old radeon 9250 card until I get a better tv? (no HD)